Shomyo is an ancient singing practice that is carried in in the Tendai and Shingon schools. Its qualities are very hard to describe. There was a recent performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC that is very much worth giving a listen to. Enjoy:

@Jikan san,I'm really intrigued by what I've heard about the English Shomyo at New York betsuin. Are there any recordings of this out there?

Gassho,Jikai.

"There are no seperate dharma's in the Three Realms. There is only the operation of the one mind.""Whoever wishes to benefit beings ought to establish teachings that fit their capacities, expound the dharma in accordance with their capacities, and match the doctrines to them"

jikai wrote:@Seishin san ,Are you learning Shomyo in English? Or Japanese?

@Jikan san,I'm really intrigued by what I've heard about the English Shomyo at New York betsuin. Are there any recordings of this out there?

Gassho,Jikai.

Much of the shomyo is untranslatable and sung in the traditional syllables.

There are some pieces, such as Gobai, that were translated into English in such a way as to preserve the rhythm, melody, and sense by Yamada sensei. There used to be a set of audio files available someplace but I don't have access to them now, unfortunately. Shomon Pia Trans in Denmark may have that material available; her contact information is found at www.tendai.eu

Learning shomyo takes time and effort. or maybe I'm a slow learner? it took me several weeks just to manage the words "shi shi mo san kai" without getting a correction!

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I had a moment so I got out my notes and my shomyo practice book. Here are some more particulars.

These are the Shomyo pieces that we practice in English:Sorai SamboShihou Nembutsu (includes the Sanskrit names of Buddhas and bodhisattvas)GobaiSanraiShichi Butsu Tsukaige Kujo Shakujo (nine parts to this)

I'm sure I've missed some. Just speaking personally, there are some of the translations that stand out as particularly well done. the Kujo Shakujo is a joy to practice. Shichi Butsu Tsukaige is beautiful.

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